Spring-training move could help Dodgers come back to Cal League

High Desert is owned by the Bretts, so their affiliation with
Kansas City seems likely to continue. Besides, Stater Bros. Stadium
is the worst in the South Division.

Lancaster's contract with Arizona is up at the end of this
season.

"Potentially, we'd be interested, but I don't know what the
Dodgers' situation is," Lancaster general manager Brad Seymour said
before adding, "We're happy with the Diamondbacks. They've sent us
very good teams."

That leaves probably the most likely candidate: Inland
Empire.

The 66ers' contract with Seattle expires this year and the team
was affiliated with the Dodgers from 1995-2000, when it was known
as the San Bernardino Spirit and San Bernardino Stampede.

The Dodgers parted ways with San Bernardino only because the
requirement in their lease in Vero Beach to field a Florida State
League team and a rule that limited each organization to one
affiliate at each minor-league level.

Inland Empire general manager Dave Oldham was not part of the
San Bernardino franchise when it was affiliated with Los Angeles,
but he worked for the Double-A San Antonio Missions from 1988-1997,
when it was a Dodgers affiliate.

"I saw the value of Orel Hershiser coming to San Antonio and
filling our park on a Tuesday night," Oldham said. "That's one of
the things we're missing with Seattle."

Oldham noted that it would make sense from a marketing
standpoint for the Dodgers to have a team in the Inland Empire as
they battle the Angels for supremacy in that region.

"We have a great relationship with the Mariners, but if there
was another team we might be interested in, it would be the
Dodgers," Oldham said. "The Dodgers would make a logical
partner.

"If we had our pick, it would be a tough decision."

Lights out again

Former Storm closer and 2005 Cal League saves leader Leo Rosales
struggled early this season at Double-A Mobile (Ala.) and was sent
back to Lake Elsinore to work on his game. The move seems to have
worked.

In five games with the Storm, Rosales went 1-0, gave up just one
hit and two walks and struck out seven without surrendering a run
in 6 1/3 innings. His performance earned him Cal League Pitcher of
the Week honors for May 15-21, and he was quickly sent back to the
BayBears.

After walking 15 batters and striking out nine in 13 1/3 innings
in his first stint in Mobile, Rosales has walked one and struck out
seven in 8 1/3 innings since returning to Mobile, and he's lowered
his ERA from 6.92 to 4.98.

Fremont: Baseball hub?

The Oakland A's dream of building a new ballpark in the city of
Fremont has run into some obstacles. The team would pay for the
stadium but would expect the city to pick up the tab for needed
infrastructure.

That's the problem. Fremont has only about 200,000 residents and
it has faced major fiscal woes that caused it to cut $25 million
from the city budget in recent years, and the city seems to be
reluctant to commit its financial resources.

Even if the city and the A's can't work out a deal, the Fremont
area might get a team. The independent Golden Baseball is
discussing locating a team in a renovated ballpark at satellite
campus of Ohlone College in neighboring Newark.

Ed Wehde covers minor league baseball for The Californian. His
minor-league notebooks appear Sundays. He can be reached at (951)
676-4315, Ext. 2633 or
ewehde@californian.com
.